Electric switch.



F. KRAEIVIER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED NI)V.2?x 1915.

1,208,575. Patented 1560.121916 w I Q f Off/Z7 56% I 4f UNITED STATESPAT g' Fria FRANK KRAEMER, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY BIRECTAND J/IESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PAN-AMERICAN ELECTRIC TOOL COMPANY, OFMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Lettersyatent. Palqmfd DQ@ 129 191,5,

Application iiled November 27, 1915. Serial No. $3,809.

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatV I, FRANK KRAEMER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukeeand State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Switches, of which the following is aspeciication.

This invention relates to electric switches and has for its object theprovision of a switch adapted to make and break a circuit withsuflicient rapidity to insure against sparking and consequent burning ofthe contacts.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of compactand simple construction whereby the circuit will be closed withsuticient lrapidity to prevent sparking when the switch is manuallyoperated and automatically and rapidly broken when the switch isreleased and which is provided with means for regulating the quantity ofcurrent delivered therethrough.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as it isbetter understood by reference to the following speciication when rea'din connection with the accompanying drawing disclosing a preferredembodiment thereof in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switchaccording to my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation viewed from theright of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a .side elevation viewed from the lett ofFig. 1 with a portion of the operating handle omitted; Fig. l is ahorizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 is a view inperspective of the actuating pawl for the switch.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a suitable base of insulatingmaterial to which 'the spindle 2 is secured by means of a suitable bolt3. Rotatably mounted on the spindle 2 is a member 4 of insulatingmaterial, which member is hollowed at 5 to allow a spring 6 to beinserted therein surrounding the bolt 3 and connected to the base 1 at 7and to the member 4 at Y8.

Secured to the upper face of the member 4 is a contact member 9 providedwith an arm 10 in which the Contact 11 is loosely mounted. The contact11 is normally held in the position indicated in Fig. 4 by spring 13, toengage the contact points 15 secured to the base 1.

An insulating abutment 16 is mounted on the upper face of' the member 4cadjacent the contact 9 and is provided with a. sloping shoulder 17. Acontact arm 18 is pivotally mounted at 19 on a post 2O secured to thebase 1 and is normally held by a spring 21 in position to engage eitherthe abutment 16 or the contact memberv 9, depending upon the angularposition of the member A.

SlidablyV mounted in a guide 22 adjacent one end of the base 1 is anoperating member 23 having a handle 2-1, .the member 23 being adapted tobe reciprocated in a direction longitudinal of the base 1. A spring 25,surrounding the member 23 between the guide 22 and the handle 24,normally forces the member 23 to its outermost position. An arm 26,secured to the inner end of the member 23 connects the latter with arack bar 27 provided with teeth 28 and slotted at 29, to engage a pin 30on the base 1 which maintains the rack bar 27 in proper alinement.Pivotally mounted on the pin 30 is a paw] 31 having an abutment 32thereon adapted to engage a corresponding abutment 33 formed on themember 4, the pawl 31 serving as a stop to limit the rotativev bar 27and to the pawl*35, normally forces the nose 36 thereof into position toengage the tooth 37. A downwardly extending flange 39 on the pawl 35 isadapted to engage and force the pawl 31 into position to allow theshoulder 33 on the member 4 to engage the shoulder 32 on the pawl 31.The member 4 is provided with a mutilated gear comprising the teeth 40adapted for engagement with the teeth 28 or" the rack bar 27.

A resistance element al is secured to the underside of the base 1 andthe sections A2 thereof are connected by conductors A3 to the contactpoints 15. The arrangement of the switch in a circuit is illustrateddiagrammatically in Fig. 1, in which indicates a source of current andA5 a conductor connecting the source of 4current 44 to the con# The modeof operation of my invention should be apparent from the foregoingwithout further description of the structure thereof., When it isdesirable to close the circuit the operator grasps the handle 24 andmoves the member 23 inwardly against the springl25, thus causing therack bar 27 andl the pawl 35.130 move downwardly, viewing Fig. -1. Thenose 36 of the'pawl 35 being in engagement with the tooth 37 on themember 4, the' latter will be rotated against the spring 6, thus movingthe arm 10, bearing the contact 11, into engagement with the firstv ofthe contact points 15. -When the member i 4 has been rotatedsufficiently to accomplish this result the contact arm 18 will snap o ofthe abutment 16 onto the contact member 9, thus rapidly completing the4circuit which at this stageincludes all of the sections 42 of theresistance element 41. The mechanism is so arranged that the'instant thecontrol arm 18 engages the contact member 9 the teeth 28 on the rack bar27 will engage the teeth 40 on the member 4 and the member 4 may therebybe moved to successively cause the Contact 11 to engage the contactpoints/15 to cut out the -sections 42 of the resistance element 41, sothat more currentis allowed to flow through the switch to the motor 46.As the member 4 rotates under'the actuation of the 'teeth 28 on the rackbar 27 the pawl 3l will be forced outwardly, the member 4 being notched(Fig. 1) adjacenty the abutment 33 to receive the abutment 32, andthepawl 31 being therefore forced to ride on the i.

periphery of the member 4 when the member 1 4 is rotated and lwillengage the ange 39 to move the nose 36 of the pawl 35 out of engagementwith the tooth 37 on the member 4. Should the operator releasethe-handle 24 the spring 6 will rotate the member 4 in an anti-clockwisedirection and the Contact arm 18 will ride onto the abutment 16, therebybreaking the circuit before the contact 11v leaves the last contactpoint 15.- If the operator4 releases the handle 24 slowly the member 4will rotate in an anti-clockwise direction at a corresponding speeduntil the teeth.

4() thereon disengage the teeth 28 on the rack bar 27. Inasmuch as thenose 36 of the pawl 35 is held from engagement with the tooth 37, aspreviously described,the meinber 4 will .rotate rapidly as soon as theteeth 40 `disengage the teeth 28 on the rack bar 27 and the breaking ofthe circuit through engagement of the switch arm 18 with the abutment 16Vwill occur with sufficient rapidity to prevent sparking. In order toagain actuate the member 4 to turn in clockwise direction and close thecircuit it will bev 'zeA mechanism whereby the circuit is rapidly A madeand broken regardless of the speed with which the device is actuated bythe operator and of carelessness of the operator in allowing theoperating handle to move backward slowly after closing the circuit. Thearrangement of the various contacts and the resistance element is suchthat the circuit when vonce made is continuous while the flow ofcurrentthrough the switch may be regulated at will without danger of burningthe contacts.

I am aware that various changes in the formand proportion of parts andin the details of construction of my invention may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof and I,therefore, reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fallwithin the scope of the invention as indicated the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base,coperating contact. members thereon, one of said membersv move `intoengagement therewith, an auxil'4 lary contact arm normally restrainedfrom,

engagement `with said movable Contact member and automatically movableto quickly engage said member after said movable member has engagedsaidfixed member, and

means for actuating saidmovable member.

3. In a device of the character described,- the combination of a base,coperating contact members thereon, one of said members being fixed andthe other being arranged to move into engagement therewith, anauxiliarycontact arm normally restrained from engagement'wlth said movableContact member andautomat'ically movablel to quickly' engage saidlmemberl after said movable member has engaged said fixed member,

manually controlled means for actuating said movable member in onedirection, and means for automatically actuating said movable member tomove in the reverse direction.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base,cooperating contact members thereon, one of said members being iixed andthe other being arranged to move into and out of engagement therewith,an auxiliary contact arm normally restrained from engagement with saidmovable contact member and automatically movable to quickly engage saidmember after said movable contact member has engaged said ixed contactmember, manually controllable means for actuating said movable contactmember in one direction to close said circuit, .and a spring foractuating said movable contact member in the reverse direction to breakthe circuit.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base,coperating contact members thereon, one of said members being fixed, arotatable member supporting the other of said contact members, anauxiliary contact arm normally restrained from engagement with thecontact member supported by said rotatable member and automaticallymovable to engage therewith after said rotatable member has been movedto cause the contact member supported thereby to engage Said fixedcontact member, and means for actuating said rotatable member comprisinga manually reciprocable member, and means providing an intermittentconnection between said reciprocating and rotatable members.

`t. in a device of the character described, the combination of a base,cooperating contac-t members thereon, one of said members being fixed, arotatable member supporting the other of said contact members, anauxiliary contact member normally restrained from engagement with one ofsaid contact members and automatically movable to quickly engage saidmember after said rotatable member has been moved to cause saidcooperating contact members to engage, and means for actuating saidrotatable member comprising a reciprocable member, and means carriedthereby and adapted for '1ntermittent engagement with said rotatablemember.

7. in a device of the character described,.

x cally movable to quickly engage said contact member after saidrotatable member has been moved to cause said coperating contact membersto engage, and actuating i the combination of a base, cooperatingcontact members thereon, one of said members comprising ya series offixed elements, a rotatable member to support the other 'of said contactmembers, an auxiliary contact arm normally restrained from contact withthe contact member supported by said rotatable member and automaticallymovable to quickly engage said contact member after said rotatablemember has been moved to cause said coperating contact members toengage, and actuating means vfor said rotatable member including areciprocable member manually operable in one direction, a pawl carriedby said reciprocable member and .adapted for intermittent engagementwith said rotatable member, and auxiliary interengaging means on saidreciprocable and rotatable members;

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base,coperating contact members thereon, one ot said members comprising aseries of iixed elements, a rotatable member to support the other ofsaid contact members, an auxiliary contact arm normally restrained fromcontact with the contact member supported by said rotatable member andautomatically movable to quickly engage said contact member after saidrotatable member has been moved to cause said cooperating contactmembers to engage, and actuating means for said rotatable memberincluding a recip'rocable member manually operable in one direction, apawl carried by said reciprocable member and adapted for intermittentengagement with said rota/table member, and auxiliary interengagingmeans on said reciprocable and rotatable members comprising a mutilatedgear on said rotatable member and a rack on said reciprocable member.

l0. ln a device of the character described, the combination of a base,coperating contact members thereon, one of said. members being iixed, arotatable member supporting the other of said contact members, means forautomatically actuating said rotatable member to move in one direction,and means for actuating said rotatable member to move in the oppositedirection comprising a reciprocable member, a pawl on said reciprocablemember, a tooth on said rotatable member adapted forpengagementwith saidpawl, auxiliary interengaging means on said rotatable and reciprocablemembers, and means for forcing said pawl from engagement with said toothafter said auxiliary means are engaged and preventing reen- A 'hat l@member to move in one direction, and means for actuating said rotatablemember to move v in the other direction comprising a reciprocable membermanually operable in one direction, -a pawl on said reciprocable member,a tooth on said rotatable member adapted for engagement withsaid pawl, amutilated gear on said rotatable member, a rack on said reciprocablemember for engagement therewith, and means for forcing said 80 pawl fromengagement with said tooth after said gear and rack are engaged andpreventing' rengagement of said pawl 'and tooth luntil said reciprocablemember is returned to its initial position. .A

l2. In a` device of the character described, the combination of a base,coperating contactmembers thereon, one of said members beingfixed, arotatable -member supporting the other of Said contact members, a spring3 for automatically actuating said rotatable member to move in onedirection, and means for actuating said rotatable member to move in theother direction comprising a recipro- .cable member manually operable inone diu rect-ion, a spring for returning said reciprocable member to itsinitial position, a pawl on said reciprocable member, a tooth on saidrotatable member adapted forengagement 'with said paWl,-a mutilated gearon said roo tatable member, a rack on said reciprocable member forengagement therewith, and .means for forcing said pawl from engage-Ament with ksaid tooth after said gear and rack are engaged andpreventing rengage- "5 mentof said pawl and tooth until saidreciprocable member is returned to its initial position. Q

13. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a base, coperating con- .o tact members thereon; oneof said members comprising a series of fixed elements, a rotatablemember supporting the other of said contact members, an,7 auxiliarycontact member normally restrained from engagement with. one of saidcoperating contact members and automatically movable to quickly engagesaid member after said coperating contact members lare engaged, a springfor actuating said. rotatable member to move in -one direction, andmeans for actuating said .rotatable member to move intheoppositedirectioncomprising a reciprocable member, a .pawl on said reciprocablemember, a tooth on said rotatable member adapted for enf` .5gagement'with said pawl, auxiliary interen'i gaging means onsaidrotatable and reciprocable members, and `means for forcing said engagesaid member after said coperating contact members are engaged, a springfor actuating said rotatable member to move in one direction, and meansfor yactuating said vrotatable member to move in the opposite, directioncomprising a reciprocable member,

manually operable in one direction, a spring to return said reciprocablemember to its initial position, a pawl on said reciprocable member,atooth on said rotatablev member adapted for engagement with said pawl,a mutilated gear on said rotatable member, a rack on said reciprocablemember, and means for forcing said pawl from engagement with saidtoothafter said gear and rack are'engaged andlpreventing rengagement of saidy pawl and tooth until said reciprocable mem-- ber is returned to itsinitial position.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, amovable contact member, contact points in the' path of movement of saidmovable contact member, re-

A sistance elements secured to said base and connected to said contactpoints, whereby the ow of current may be regulated without breaking thecircuit, and an auxiliary -contact member normally restrained fromengagement with said movable contact member and automatically movabletoquickly 'engage said member after said movable contact member hasen'gaged the rst of the contact points.

16. In a device of the character described,

.the combination of a base, a movable contact member, contact points inthe path of movement of said movable contact member',

resistanceelements secured to said base and connected to said contactpoints, whereby thefiow of current may be regulated Without breakingthe' circuit, and an auxiliary contact arm normally restrained fromengagement with said'movable contact lmember'and automatically movable`to quickly engage said member after said movable contact member hasengaged [the rst of the contact points.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, acontact member,

a rotatable member supporting said contact l0 said rotatable member hasbeen moved to cause said Contact member to engage one of said Contactpoints, and actuating means for said rotatable member, including meansto insure the quick return vof said rotatable member to normalcircuit-breaking position l5 when said actuatino' means is released. 2`

FRANK KRAEMER. Witnesses F. J. RAMLER, M. A. Kimm.

